The nation’s retailers had moderate sales gains during the holiday season, according to a report issued Thursday by the International Council of Shopping Centers.
Sales at 66 chain retailers monitored by the association increased 3.5 percent in November and December, aided largely by a late-season spike in last-minute shopping.
Michael Niemira, chief economist and director of research for the International Council of Shopping Centers, characterized the season as “good, not necessarily great.”
The data is at the upper end of the association’s forecast and came as welcome news to experts who observed a slower-than-usual start to the holiday shopping season.
“With Christmas falling on a Sunday, a lot of people who might have been really time- pressed were able to go out that Thursday, Friday or Saturday,” said Jon Schallert, president of the Schallert Group Inc., a Sorrento, Fla., retail consulting firm. “They made up a lot of ground during the last few days.”
While worries about increased gas and home-heating costs dampened early enthusiasm, Schallert said consumers appeared to shake those concerns.
Retail giant Wal-Mart came in on the low end of its projections, reporting a December same-store sales increase of 2.2 percent. Its main competitor, Target, reported a 4.7 percent increase in December same-store sales with the overall discount-store category reporting December gains of 2.6 percent.
Upscale department store Nordstrom led the department-stores sector with a 7.7 percent December sales increase. Overall, department- store sales increased 3.3 percent in December.
Heather Drake, marketing director for Broomfield’s FlatIron Crossing mall, said early indicators show the center had positive holiday sales, although merchants won’t turn in their final numbers until later this month.
Statewide retail-sales data won’t be reported for at least another month.
Staff writer Kristi Arellano can be reached at 303-820-1902 or karellano@denverpost.com.
